"PATH Too Long" Error Installing Windows 95/98 Client on Windows NT

ID: Q230340

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

The following error dialog box may be displayed when you install the SNA Server client for Windows 95/98 on a Windows NT system:

Setup Message

The PATH statement in your Autoexec.bat file is too long for Setup to modify.

Before your new software will run correctly, you must edit the Autoexec.bat file manually to add the following folder to your PATH statement:

C:\SNA95\SYSTEM
NOTE: The actual statement to add to the PATH statement will depend on the PATH that was specified in the Windows 95/98 client Setup program.

Clicking the OK button on the error dialog box allows the Windows 95/98 client Setup to continue. Setup will complete normally despite the fact that the PATH could not be modified.

If the Windows 95/98 client is being installed using an unattended installation method, this error dialog box causes Setup to stop until the error dialog box is acknowledged.


CAUSE

The "PATH Too Long" error occurs when the PATH statement on the Windows NT system exceeds 200 characters or will exceed 200 characters when the path for the Windows 95/98 client is added to the existing PATH statement.


RESOLUTION

A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but it has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. If you are not severely affected by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Microsoft SNA Server version 4.0 service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp
The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

File name Date Time
Snafile.stf 04/26/99 1:58PM

NOTE: Because of file dependencies, the most recent fix that contains the above files may also contain additional files.

NOTE: If this product was already installed on your computer when you purchased it from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and you need this fix, please call the Pay Per Incident number listed on the above Web site. If you contact Microsoft to obtain this fix, and if it is determined that you only require the fix you requested, no fee will be charged. However, if you request additional technical support, and if your no-charge technical support period has expired, or if you are not eligible for standard no-charge technical support, you may be charged a non-refundable fee.

For more information about eligibility for no-charge technical support, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q154871 Determining If You Are Eligible for No-Charge Technical Support


WORKAROUND

The "Path Too Long" error can be prevented by modifying the PATH in Windows NT to be less than 200 characters. For additional information about methods that can be used to allow longer PATH statements, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q169171 Long PATH Environment Variable Causes 16-bit Apps to Hang


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SNA Server versions 3.0, 3.0 SP1, 3.0 SP2, 3.0 SP3, 4.0, 4.0 SP1, and 4.0 SP2.


MORE INFORMATION

The following steps have to be done to apply the update to prevent the "PATH Too Long" error from occurring when the Windows NT path is greater than 200 characters in length:

  1. Copy the SNA Server client for Windows 95/98 to a local hard drive.


  2. Backup and rename the existing Snafile.stf file located in the Windows 95/98 client directory (for example, c:\Win9x) created in the previous step.


  3. Copy the updated Snafile.stf into the local client directory.


  4. Run Setup.exe from the local directory.


The updated Snafile.stf does not attempt to add the path for the Windows 95/98 client to the Windows NT PATH statement. If the path for the Windows 95/98 client is needed, it will have to be added manually.

NOTE: This update is most useful in those environments where the SNA Server client for Windows 95/98 will be installed in an unattended manner, as user intervention to continue Setup is not wanted.

The Windows NT PATH statement consists of the following:

The PATH statements (if they exist) from the Autoexec.bat and Autoexec.nt files are appended to the PATH environment variable specified in Control Panel.

Additional query words: 


Keywords          : 
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0SP1,3.0SP2,3.0SP3,4.0,4.0SP1,4.0SP2
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: June 28, 1999